Album Review: Tope

Trouble Man (Self-Released)

[HIP-HOP] At age 27, Portland MC Tope has become an old
hand in the local hip-hop scene. His career stretches back almost a
decade, but this year, he seems to be hitting his stride. His new EP, Trouble Man, is a heartfelt snapshot of where he’s at now, musically and emotionally.

Lyrically, the record
is steeped in nostalgia. Tope has always been somewhat of a romantic,
crafting love songs that walk the line between sincerity and smooth
talk. He spits pick-up lines at girls in coffee shops on “Church Girls”
and bickers with his girlfriend for smoking his weed on “Stuck.”
Elsewhere, he takes a more serious tone, addressing the death of his
grandfather and his rocky relationship with his father on “About You”
and “Birthday Song,” respectively. His personal insights are brief and
to the point, but they’re refreshing on an album that is mostly devoted
to life’s good times.

But the most captivating aspect of Trouble Man
is the production. Tope really has come into his own as a beatmaker,
chopping samples so they coo and hum at just the right moments. “Start”
blends chopped guitar lines, sped-up vocals and splashy drums to create a
breezy tune built for the sound system of a vintage car. He gets
smoother on “Take Your Time,” which samples Erykah Badu and features
live instrumentation from trumpeter Farnell Newton. He even wanders into
pop territory, turning Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real” into a party jam
on “Family Affair.” Trouble Man is a display of Tope’s versatility, not just behind the mic, but behind the boards as well.